Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-01
BRILLIANT BEGINNING.
Miss Lillian Lewis Opens her Season
Under Mr.. knell's Management at
Harper's Theatre---Magnificen Per-
formance of The Creole


Under Mr.. Knelrs Management at
Harper's Decentralization Per-
formance of The Creole
Miss Lillian Lewis, who has by hard
work, careful and intelligent study and
close application, perseverance and atten-
ton to all details won an enviable repu-
tation for herself through these United
States, has been but five years on the
dramatic stage.
She is of the blond type of beauty.
tall. statuesque and graceful of the
order of Miss Lqngtry, eyes large and
dreamy of the violets deepest blue.
Although only twenty-four years of age,
Miss Lewis has assumed, with great credit.
many arduous roles of the legitimate
drama, her repertoire comprising such
PLAYS as The Creole. IAN Unequal
Match, 'Frou Frou," Lady of Lyons,
London Assurance. Meg Merrilles,
Camille. AS You Like 1t" etc. Miss
Lewis lately played to larger business
in New York city than did Clara Morris
in the same play. The press and public
alike praise this actress laudable efforts,
and while Hkening her TO Clara Morris
unite in the opinion that she with youth
and beauty on her side promises to fairly
rival this eminent exponent of the highs
est tragic art In Chicago, too. she has
had phenomenal success.
Mr.. knell has become manager of
this gifted and talented actress, and last
evening she gave her first performance
at Harpers theatre, under Mr. Knell's
management, appearing in her favorite
represen tation, that of Cora in the
Creole, which Is translation of Vic
torien SarGous Article Al" A cold
and disagreeable night did not prevent
the star being greeted by large refined
and exceedingly appreciative audience.
The story of the plot of The Creole
is familiar TO most of our theatre~guers
and has been recently given to the read
ers OF the ARGUS. The death scene of
Cora touches the extreme of realism.
1t is counterpart of the thrilling and
even horrible death of "Bertuccio" in
the Fools Revenge" Lillian Lewis as
Cora, and Edwin Booth as ''Bertuccio"
furnish faint CLEAN of daylight at the
close to relieve their unhappy lives in
the same tempestuous gale of passionate
madness. although in the latter case
there is an awful gloom In both cases
the mad desire for revenge blots out hu-
man instincts and leaves behind only the
lettering wreck of intellectual and phys
zeal passion Ii the "Bertuccio" of Ell
win Booth is true art the Cora" of Lii
ian Lewis must share in the same COM
incubation. To speak of idealized suf-
feriHg upon the stage or in real life is
simply absurd cropping after rotund
and majestic phases that mean nothing
There is no beauty or repose in any trag.
ic episode. When the wrecked intellect
that staggers with its weight of incoher>
ent grief into the pathway of the locomo-
tive and is hurried to the infinite there is
no halrsplitting over the affair. 1t can
not be Idealized cut of the horror encited
by the rash aad tragic event The
philosophy that would strip stage
tragedy Of its inevitable gloom and sub
stitute for Il an uncertain something that
Is neither nature nor arts not even
respectable. 1t is the highest preroga
tive of the people who live in the
atmosphere of the stage to hold the
mirror up to nature This Lillian Lewis
succeeds ia doing with painful fidelity
Cold, yet passionate, calculating venom
Gus, and revengful, Cora" is a woman
whose life is an epitome of all that is
debasi1g in the gentler sex. As such
Lillian Lewis represents her, and would
be impossible for her to do less without
sacrificing fidelity to her prototype to a
mawkish sentiment that would even
idealize the blacklist crimes.
Miss Lewis support is on the whole
strong and remarkably 80. Mr.. Walter
Owen made splendid George Duha-
mel, Mr.. Clifford Dempsey as Victor
Mazilier," was good. His voice is deep
and melodiOus and his actions graceful |
As "Marcelle," Miss Belle Inman was
superb, and the Nina" of Miss Bessie |
Perry was equally fine. Mr.. Jack Saun>
ders in the comedy role was good. espe-
Cially in the drunken scene in the gamb-
ling parlors, while Mr. E II. Stephens,
MI John Therval and Miss Fannie St. |
Glare acted well their parts. The setting
of the piece was rich and tasty and added
much to the success of the entertainment
Tonight Miss Lewis and her company
will appear in Alexander Dumas strong
French drama. Camille" or THE Fate
Of a COouette